You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Part 2

In this episode of OverTime the Podcast, Praka is joined by Paul for part 2 of "You Know What Really Grinds My Gears!" We talk honestly about the things within watch culture that drain excitement rather than fuel it — from hype cycles to QC dismissals, influencer exhaustion, and the way some brands handle criticism. A bit of therapy, a bit of comedy, and hopefully a bit of perspective.Wristchecks:Praka – Seiko Lord Marvel (Gold)Paul – Lorier Olympia Chronograph NE88 (Series 1)Recap:We kick things off with the Zelos cycle and the constant “sold out!” or “why didn’t it sell out?” chatter — it’s never-ending: https://zeloswatches.com/collections/allThen we get into a recent run-in with a brand, where feedback turned into deleted comments, burner accounts and pressure for glowing coverage. It sparked a bigger conversation about how community, brand transparency and fair critique should work.From there, we dig into forum and hobby culture — yes, every brand has QC issues, but brushing off legitimate concerns because a watch isn’t $10k is wild. If it’s sold for money, QC matters.We also talk about influencer fatigue — that wave of “everything is perfect” content. It’s okay to say something isn’t great. Not everything has to be a masterpiece.We revisit the infamous pumpkin/patina watch listing: cracked bezel, grime literally packed between the case and bezel… for $16K. Clean your watches, folks.Ginault comes up, along with mod culture and the double standard between what’s considered “customisation” and what’s considered “ruining a watch”:https://www.artisansdegeneve.com/fr/challenges/absolute-ruby/And of course — watches listed as “only one under $X!” priced $1 under… crowns at 10 o’clock (especially on these): https://wolbrook.com/collections/skindiver-ii-professional-diving-watchesThe Albishorn Type 10 where you basically need to take the watch off to use the buttons.Plus the Kaventsmann Hadal II — a ~$5K watch with a genuinely cool Instagram presence: https://www.instagram.com/kaventsmann_watches/?hl=enWe talk about respect in forums — most of us aren’t here to make money, but no one needs to take advantage either. If you’re selling or buying, be a decent human.Something Interesting:Paul brings things full circle with a nod to the Ginault, Lorier and AAWF story — shoutout to Tom for being part of that chapter.Praka shares his experience at the recent RedbarWA meetup at Fire & Time — watches intersecting with cars, art, sculpture and design. A reminder that this hobby often connects with broader culture and creativity.Also — if you have a Traska Freediver, get in touch. Paul wants to buy it.Connect With UsThanks for tuning in! If you have any feedback or just want to chat, you can find us here:Praka: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@kinda.average.watches⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OverTime Broadcast Channel (Instagram): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbYuJN0yPDu4UXZk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OverTime The Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree – OverTime The Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support UsIf you’d like to support the show, you can buy us a coffee here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/overtimethepodcast⁠